Tadej Pogacar 'really proud' to be part of UAE Team Emirates' rise to world No 1

Tadej Pogacar has been front and centre for the meteoric rise of UAE Team Emirates.

When the Slovenian joined the UCI World Tour outfit as a hopeful 20-year-old in 2019, UAE Team Emirates had only been in existence for two years and was still finding its feet on the professional cycling circuit. There had been some moderate success that showed the team trending in the right direction but they were yet to be serious contenders at the biggest races.

From the outset, however, the ambitions were clear and bold: to win Grand Tour titles and become the best team in the world.

The team, led by president Matar Suhail Al Yabhouni Al Dhaheri and CEO Mauro Gianetti, placed an emphasis on recruiting exciting young talent to build for a long-term and sustainable future. One of those young riders was Pogacar. It was talent spotting of the highest order.

Pogacar, now 25, is far and away the best road cyclist in the world. Despite having to settle for runner-up at the Tour de France for a second straight year, it has been another historic individual season with a stunning 17 victories, including record-setting results in the prestigious Classic and Monument races.

Beyond the personal highlights though, Pogacar has significantly contributed to helping UAE Team Emirates achieve two major goals: after completing the Grand Tour target with Pogacar's Tour de France triumphs in 2020 and 2021, UAE Team Emirates ended the 2023 UCI World Tour season at the top of the rankings for the first time.

In all, the team claimed 57 victories this year, plus another 138 podium places, to usurp Team Jumbo Visma as the No 1-ranked team in road cycling.

"When I came five years ago, we were sitting in one conference room in a hotel and the bosses were saying,